July 30th, Monday – Routine Maintenance; The Transformation of Graybeard Continues

Awoke to another cool but wonderful day.  Probably the last though for a bit.  The weather report is calling for 60% chance of rain for the rest of the week.  No problem I have enough inside projects to keep me busy for the next few days.

Super breakfast again.  One of my favorites which Barbara sort of invented for me.  We call it cheese potatoes.  In essence, it’s left over mashed potatoes to which she adds an egg and then several different types of cheese.  Then you take and fry the whole concoction for several minutes.  It is definitely tummy filling and so delicious.

Well, since the sun was out for the early part of the day, I figured it best to get the outside chores done first.  I first dumped the gray tank.  I can’t leave it open like I normally do since I discovered we had flies coming in through the shower drain from the sewer.  We never had this issue before but I guess there is a first for everything.

Then I turned my attention to under the hood.  Checked all the fluids and did an eyeball check on everything else.  Everything OK under the hood.  Next time I’m going to have to take the air cleaner box apart and check the air cleaner.  I was told it was replaced just before I bought it a year ago so I’m not too concerned about it.

Now it was time for a pressure check on all the tires.  Front were within spec’s.  Back needed some attention.  So I got out the Viair Air Compressor and got to work.  The inside tires on the back dual tires were always a pain, that is until I remembered what I used in the past on my motorcycle.  It’s called a Valve Extender and it works like a charm.

Now it was time to turn my attention to the inside.  Today, I wanted to get the new back splash tiles up.  One thing I knew I was going to take my time and do it right.  Also I wanted to stop from time to time to step back and view what I was doing to see if I wanted to make any changes.  Yup, half way through I changed my mind and went in a different direction then I first had in mind.  In the beginning I was going to just do the section under the Microwave.  But I later decided to go the complete length of the kitchen counter.  I also considered just doing one row of titles high.  Changing that as well.  When I’m finished here I’m going to add another section of titles and bring the back splash up to just under the Microwave.

So that’s what was done today.  Tomorrow I’ll put the new cabinets together that arrived today.  We measured, and remeasured and then measured again and we still were not 100% sure if they would fit where we wanted them.  Well, taking the pieces out of the box it appears all will be OK.

We’re also going to take all the day/night shades down along with the stock valances and replace them with wooden blinds.  We have color samples coming by the end of the week but it doesn’t appear we’ll be able to order the actual blinds for another couple of weeks.  No rush we’ll be living here in Graybeard for some time to come yet.

We did finish decorating the bathroom.  We have the accessories for the counter in place and the toilet seat cover and bathroom rug in place.  That room was easy.

So, the transformation of Grayberd continues from a cookie cutter RV to our unique home.  No more, no less than what normally happens in a stick and brick house.  Only difference, our home is on wheels!  To date we’ve done the following:  removed the dinette and added a new free standing table and chairs; put down a new kitchen rug; added a new back splash, and decorated the bathroom,  Much, much more to come.

Yes, it’s fun and it’s rewarding.  We lived for some 20 years in our stick and brick house and, unfortunately for so many reasons, were never able to do things like this.  Now we can and we are stoked!   Stay tuned for the continuing transformation.

So night is here and so is the rain.  Wish I could send some of this rain to those poor folks in California.  It sure is needed out there.  Believe me, I’m not really complaining since we’ve already had so many beautiful days to enjoy this year.  No doubt there will be plenty more to come.  Thanks again for joining us today.  We hope you had a great day, a day that was full and rewarding.  Before I leave you, as always a thought for each of us to ponder:

As always,  if you are coming to the end of your day with concerns and worries, let me suggest that you turn them over to God.  After all, He is going to be up all night so why not let him handle them for you.

Time now for our evening prayers and eventually some shut-eye.  Till tomorrow.

These are the voyages of  Graybeard and it’s occupants, four paws and two humans.  Our continuing mission: to explore as many new states as possible, to seek out new acquaintances and make new friends, to boldly go where we have not been before